HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ammerman, C. B. Articles by Arrington, L. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ammerman, C. B. Articles by Arrington, L. R.

Effect of Dietary Magnesium on Voluntary Feed Intake and Rumen Fermentations

Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville 32601

ABSTRACT

In experiments with intact and ruminal fistulated sheep, the influence of magnesium on voluntary feed intake and physiological functions of the rumen was studied. In addition, rumen fluid from a normally fed steer was serially diluted to determine the effect of supplemental magnesium on in vitro cellulose fermentation. Intact sheep fed diets essentially devoid of magnesium reduced voluntary intake to 32% of controls after receiving the diet for four days. When magnesium was added, the minimum dietary requirement of magnesium, as magnesium oxide, to restore normal intake was between 8 and 10 mg/kg body weight daily. In ruminal fistulated sheep, there was a close correlation between voluntary feed intake and cellulose digestion both in vitro and in vivo. The concentration of acetic and propionic acid in rumen fluid was reduced and ruminal pH increased when feed intake decreased. Rumen microflora from a steer receiving adequate magnesium gave a positive response to magnesium as measured by cellulose digestion after a series of dilutions and fermentations.

¹ Present address: Centro de Investigaciones Agronómicas, Sección de Zootecnia, Maracay, Venezuela.

² Present address: Purina de Venezuela, Maracay, Venezuela.